Sohn Hyunlok’s The Birds Officially Invited to the 31^st Busan International Film Festival

The Birds (2026), the second feature film by K-Arts alumnus Sohn Hyunlok, has been officially selected for the Korean Cinema Today – Vision section of the 31^st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The project first began development in 2024 after being chosen for the Feature Film Production Support Program at the School of Film, TV & Multimedia. Later that year, it received backing from the Chungnam Content Agency’s Independent Film Support Program and was selected for BIFF’s Asian Project Market (APM), where it earned the Songwon Vision Award.

The Birds is a mystery drama centered on three individuals pursuing the truth behind a series of mysterious fatal falls involving students. In his director’s note, Sohn noted that he aimed to explore the arrival of genuine freedom – one attainable only by breaking free from a protective cage of one’s own making. The film conveys this theme through an intricate narrative that unravels the hidden layers beneath recurring tragedy.

Sohn previously garnered critical acclaim with his feature debut, That Summer’s Lie (2023), which he completed while pursuing his Master of Fine Arts at K-Arts and won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) in BIFF’s New Currents competition. Expressing his excitement about returning to Busan with his sophomore feature, Sohn shared his commitment to continuously questioning and discovering what constitutes good cinema.

His accomplishment underscores the vitality of the School of Film, TV & Multimedia’s Feature Film Production Support Program, which has nurtured emerging filmmakers since 2016 in tandem with industry and festival initiatives. The school continues to demonstrate its standing as a creative cradle for Korean cinema. Notably, at the 30^th BIFF last year, Han Changrok’s Funky Freaky Freaks won the Special Jury Award, while 13 student and alumni productions received official selections.

The 31^st BIFF runs from October 6 to 15 across venues in Centum City, Haeundae, and Nampodong, presenting a wide range of film screenings and industry programs, including the Asia Contents & Film Market (ACFM).